Release Day *** THE BOUND ***

 

One of my most highly anticipated books this year releases today!!  

THE BOUND by K.A. Linde

Cyrene Strohm is a Queen’s Affiliate, a high-ranking official of the court of Byern, with power and privilege to spare. But she’s also a keeper of dangerous secrets: like the fact that she holds the heart of the King, and that she possesses magic in a world where magic no longer exists. Determined to discover what this means and how to use her newfound abilities, Cyrene sets off for the distant land of Eleysia. An island nation where Affiliates are strictly forbidden from entering. But the journey is perilous, and the destination may mean utter ruin, as Cyrene comes to learn that everything she’s been told her whole life – about her court, her homeland, and even herself—are bound in a beautiful lie.      

 

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Excerpt

Staggering down the hallway, she didn’t even look up when she heard her name.

“Hmm?” she asked.

“Cyrene, there you are!”

Someone grabbed her shoulders, and she tipped her head to look up into the most beautiful face. She smiled and felt a renewed burst of energy flow through her.

“Hey,” she whispered.

“Hey,” he said, threading his fingers through hers. A shiver ran up her back. He glanced around the empty hallway and then tugged her away from the main corridors. She turned a corner, and he pressed her back into a darkened alcove. His mouth was only inches from hers.

Her exhaustion was wearing off from the excitement of being with him.

“I was really worried about you,” he breathed.

“You don’t have to worry about me,” she said, trapped in his gaze. She teetered on her tiptoes and nearly brushed their lips together. Her heart was racing ahead of her. This felt almost better than reaching for her magic. Definitely better than moving one drop of water at a time all day.

“You’re wrong.” Then, he softly dropped his mouth down on hers. His lips were tender and slow as they caressed hers. “I will always worry for your safety.”

Cyrene’s cheeks heated, and she sighed, leaning back against the hard stone of the alcove. “I didn’t mean to worry you.”

His hands pushed up through her hair and tilted her head back up to look at him. She closed her eyes and sighed. She was so tired, and just the feel of his fingers was lulling her to sleep.

“That feels good.”

His mouth found hers, and despite her exhaustion, she pushed back against his lips with more force. She refused to let the fact that she was tired get in the way of her time with him.

“Whoa,” he said, pulling back from her. He rested his forehead against hers, and she could tell he was breathing heavily. “As much as I want this, and I do, I want to make sure you’re okay. This didn’t scare you away?”

She shook her head. “This, most certainly, does not scare me.” Then, she kissed him again for good measure.

He laughed. “Good. Because I’ve been wanting to kiss you since I first met you.”

“You have not!” she insisted.

“Are you kidding? A gorgeous, feisty woman who wasn’t afraid to put me in my place the first time she met me? I mostly certainly have.”

 Globug's Review

I thought Linde had created a huge new world in The Affiliate. I found in The Bound that my sight may have been a little narrow. Emporia exceeds what I thought the limits were of the world created in the Ascension Series.

The prologue gets things started with a bang. You instantly have answers to a couple of lingering questions from The Affiliate. Cyrene's journey is off to a quick start and just as quickly she's up to her eyes in trouble. One thing I loved about the first book was the supporting characters and Linde did not disappoint with the continued development of my favorite characters (like Ahlvie) and added new characters that compete for my heart.

I was surprised by a few plot twists this time around.  New characters, new creatures, and new romance kept me invested and intrigued in where Linde is taking Cyrene on her journey. Cyrene has only just begun to discover how powerful she is and how naive she has been about her King and her cherished position as an Affiliate in the First Class. What I thought I wanted to be the outcome of the romance developing was blown away by new a addition to the story. I also felt an added bit of mystery around the ever loyal Ahlvie.

So much still lies undiscovered and then sadly the book closes with a cliffhanger that made me nash my teeth a little. Now I will again be anxiously waiting for the continuation of this magical series.


   
The Affiliate: Book 1

  "With rich romance and twisty political intrigue, THE AFFILIATE is a breakneck fantasy ride that's perfect for fans of THE SELECTION or THRONE OF GLASS." --Susan Dennard, NYT bestselling author of TRUTHWITCH

On the day of her Presenting, in front of the entire Byern Court, seventeen-year-old Cyrene Strohm's lifelong plans come to fruition when she's chosen for one of the most prestigious positions in her homeland--an Affiliate to the Queen. Or so she thinks. When Cyrene receives a mysterious letter and an unreadable book, she finds nothing is as it seems. Thrust into a world of dangerous political intrigue and deadly magic, Cyrene's position only grows more treacherous when she finds herself drawn to the one man she can never have... King Edric himself. Cyrene must decide if love is truly worth the price of freedom.

Find out in this first book in USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde's new Ascension series. Great for fans of Game of Thrones, Tudors, and Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass series.

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   Globug's Review of THE AFFILIATE

About the author

K.A. Linde grew up as a military brat and created fantastical stories based off of her love for Disney movies, fairy tales, and Star Wars. In her spare time, she is an avid traveler, loves reading young adult novels, and dancing. Additionally, K.A. has written more than a dozen adult novels and is a USA Today bestselling author. She lives in Lubbock, TX with her husband and two super adorable puppies. K.A. Linde loves to hear from her readers!






You can contact her at kalinde45@gmail.com or visit her online at one of the following sites: 
 www.kalinde.com 
 www.facebook.com/authorkalinde 
@authorkalinde  

Book Review & Giveaway: The Affiliate by K.A. Linde

Title: The Affiliate

Author: K.A. Linde

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Release Date: September 15, 2015

The Affiliate Synopsis:

On the day of her Presenting, in front of the entire Byern Court, seventeen-year-old Cyrene Strohm's lifelong plans come to fruition when she's chosen as an Affiliate to the Queen.

Or so she thinks. When Cyrene receives a mysterious letter and an unreadable book, she finds nothing is as it seems. Thrust into a world of dangerous political intrigue and deadly magic, Cyrene's position only grows more treacherous when she finds herself drawn to the one man she can never have...

King Edric himself.

Cyrene must decide if love is truly worth the price of freedom. Find out in this first book in USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde’s new Ascension series.

**ARC provided for an honest review

Globug's Review

I've always been a fan of YA Fantasy but for the last couple of years I've been consumed with Contemporary. The gorgeous cover is what first caught my attention. I was a little apprehensive even before the Prologue when I found a Pronunciation Guide was provided. Then Linde opens up a whole new world that captured me completely.

The mystery setup in the Prologue made it hard for me to put the book down. The King has two sons and on his death bed he names the eldest son Edric as his successor but then entrusts the family greatest secrets to only one of the boys but the author doesn't tell us which boy it is. I couldn't help but feel like the author was setting me up to think the younger son  Kael was the keeper of the secrets of a dark magic that had been banished when it was really Edric. My mind would consider this throughout the entire book never fully satisfied with a definitive answer to which brother it was.

Next you have the leading lady Cyrene. At the age of seventeen all of the youth in the kingdom are Presented. The King decides the Class that each will spend the rest of their lives serving in: Frist, Second, or Third Class. I instantly loved Cyrene for her sassy confidence. She is also a true and loyal friend and very loving of her family. She's trained her entire life in hopes to be given a place in First Class. I loved her courage to make fierce choices.

There were a couple of things that made me twinge a little. King Edric and Kael are both drawn to Cyrene which equals a love triangle. The biggest problem with that is the King is married. The Queen happens to be a major winch and honestly that's what helped me not totally hate the King's attraction to Cyrene. Kael is a huge player but he has a charm that appealed to me at times. I was also a little confused with the King's relationship with his Consort. I wasn't sure if they had a sexual relationship.

There were a lot of supporting characters that I enjoyed. I loved the paranormal/fantasy/magical feel of the story. The story is so much bigger than just this one book that I wasn't mad about the cliffhanger. It means that there is so much more to come. I have continued to think back to this story everyday since finishing it which is a huge tell for how much I enjoyed it.

K.A. Linde Bio:

USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde is the author of The Affiliate, the first book in the Ascension Series.  As a military brat, she traveled the world with her family, imaginary friends, and ever-increasing supply of books.  She has spent much of her life dreaming up new worlds and characters and forcing them into uncomfortable, usually life-threatening scenarios.  After graduating from the University of Georgia with a masters degree in political science, she began spending every waking hour putting those characters onto paper.

When not writing, she spends her time dancing, collecting paperbacks in the hopes of filling a Beauty and the Beast style library one day, traveling to visit her friends who live all over the country, and still reading anything she can get her hands on.  She currently resides in North Carolina with her husband and two puppies, Lucy and Riker, where she is hard at work on her next novel.

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The Iron Traitor (The Iron Fey: Call Of The Forgotten #2) by Julie Kagawa {Review}

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Fantasy

Publication Date: October 29th 2013

Series: Call Of the Forgotten #2

Pages: 349

Format: Kindle ARC

Source: Provided by Netgalley for review

After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as "normal" as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for-his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he's forbidden to see her again. But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, "normal" simply isn't to be. For Ethan's nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery worlds forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten. As Ethan's and Keirran's fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan's next choice may decide the fate of them all.

Blog Tour: Snake In The Grass (Good Gods #2) by Staci Hart {Review + Giveaway + Guest Post}

Welcome to our stop on the SNAKE IN THE GRASS blog tour hosted by IMR BLOG TOURS. I am excited to bring you my review of book two in the Good Gods series by Staci Hart. Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to check out the GIVEAWAY below! -Hootie

{Click the banner to follow the tour}


Genre: Contemporary/Paranormal Romance

Age Group: 18+

Series: Good Gods #2

 Publication Date: July 30, 2013

Published By: Promise Socks Publishing
Format: Beta/ARC
Source: Provided by author for review

It’s Round Two of high stakes Love Connection on Olympus, and this time, everything has changed. For Aphrodite, at least. Ares is on deck, and Aphrodite is nervous. As much as she loves to hook up with him, she doesn’t trust him as far as she could throw him, which isn’t very far. He’s a big dude. They haven’t been together in a very long time, but she can’t resist him. She never could. Even when every part of her screamed that he was a liar. He has a plan to keep Aphrodite, for good this time. He wants to win the game, but he’ll hold back to get what he wants. He’s sitting on a chance that he’s been waiting thousands of years for, and he’ll do what he has to do to convince her to stay forever. The only thing that could stop him is the secret that he’s been keeping from her for eons. If she finds out, it will destroy everything. Aphrodite is getting crap for her choice in player, because from the outside, it looks like a match that would never work. Kat and Dillon have been through a lot, and everything has been to protect their younger siblings. They sacrificed everything to make sure their brother and sister would be safe. The players are tough and loyal. Fierce and determined. But they become each other’s weakness, even though they fight it, and even though it means danger for Kat and her sister. If Aphrodite can get the players over their egos long enough to see that they’re meant for each other, this competition will be a piece of cake. One that she’ll eat a la mode, right in front of Ares, if she beats him.

Snake In The Grass (Good Gods #2) by Staci Hart {Cover Reveal + Excerpt}

Title: Snake in the Grass

Series & number: Good Gods Book 2

Expected Publication Date: July 30, 2013

Published By: Promise Socks Publishing

Genre: 18+ Contemporary Romance, Paranormal Romance

It’s Round Two of high stakes Love Connection on Olympus, and this time, everything has changed. For Aphrodite, at least. 

Ares is on deck, and Aphrodite is nervous. As much as she loves to hook up with him, she doesn’t trust him as far as she could throw him, which isn’t very far. He’s a big dude. They haven’t been together in a very long time, but she can’t resist him. She never could. Even when every part of her screamed that he was a liar.

He has a plan to keep Aphrodite, for good this time. He wants to win the game, but he’ll hold back to get what he wants. He’s sitting on a chance that he’s been waiting thousands of years for, and he’ll do what he has to do to convince her to stay forever.

The only thing that could stop him is the secret that he’s been keeping from her for eons. If she finds out, it will destroy everything.

Aphrodite is getting crap for her choice in player, because from the outside, it looks like a match that would never work.

Kat and Dillon have been through a lot, and everything has been to protect their younger siblings. They sacrificed everything to make sure their brother and sister would be safe. The players are tough and loyal.

Fierce and determined. But they become each other’s weakness, even though they fight it, and even though it means danger for Kat and her sister.

If Aphrodite can get the players over their egos long enough to see that they’re meant for each other, this competition will be a piece of cake. One that she’ll eat a la mode, right in front of Ares, if she beats him.

Blog Tour: Deer In Headlights by Staci Hart {Review + Author Interview}

Series: Good Gods Book 1

Genre: Paranormal/Fantasy Romance

Publication Date: February 13th 2013

Format: Ebook provided by author for review

What do the Greek gods do when they're bored? Because they're always bored, so humans are the perfect players in their games. Aphrodite owns love; she hasn't lost a competition on her turf in over three millennia. Apollo is on a mission to win. He's counting on it to finally get the one woman he's never been able to have. The two gods will choose their human players, and if Aphrodite can't get them together before the clock runs out, Apollo will get his way. And Aphrodite couldn't have that. Lex and Dean are perfect for each other, they just don't know it yet. Dean is a perpetual bachelor, and a brooding, beautiful rock star. Lex is always with a man, but she'll never fully give herself up. Aphrodite has her work cut out for her, but if she can't make it work, no one can. The gods have their own drama. Apollo killed Aprhodite's mortal love - they've got beef that's been dragging on for thousands of years. Ares, the douchebag, is forever trying to pick a fight, and trying to get Aphrodite into bed. And Persephone, Aphrodite's best friend, is the one person who Aphrodite shares everything with. Follow the gods as they fight, laugh, cry, lose love, gain power, and make a mess with humans.

Cover Reveal: Veiled Shadows (the Age Of Alandria #2) by Morgan Wylie

Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal

Author: Morgan Wylie

Expected Publication Date: Fall 2013

Shadows linger where light is obstructed, and truth is veiled. Evil is an untreated disease in the once beautiful realm of Alandria. Kaeleigh is faced with a revelation that she must reconcile. She will decide if discovering the truth is worth the unknown consequences to both herself and her friends. Daegan, the Ferrishyn warrior, is conflicted by more than his loyalties, and is confronted with emotions he doesn’t know how to deal with. A choice must be made. A choice… that may cost him more than he ever wanted to give. The Droch-Shúil—enforcers and servants of the ancient darkness—continue to cast their shadow over Alandria seeking those who can be turned to their side. The magic of The Orchids is growing, but not everyone will survive what is to come. Veiled Shadows is the second installment in The Age of Alandria series: the story of the Sol-lumieth’s quest for freedom of self and the power to battle the evil of the Droch-Shúil.

The Forgotten Ones by Laura Howard {Review + Excerpt}

Genre: New Adult/Fantasy

Publication Date: May 15th 2013

Publisher: Laura Howard

Pages: 177

Format: Mobi ARC provided by author for review

Allison O'Malley's plan is to go to grad school so she can get a good job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She has carefully closed herself off from everything else, including a relationship with Ethan, who she's been in love with for as long as she can remember. What is definitely not part of the plan is the return of her long-lost father, who claims he can bring Allison's mother back from the dark place her mind has gone. Allison doesn't trust her father, so why would she believe his stories about a long forgotten Irish people, the Tuatha de Danaan? But truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother's sanity. 

Free Book, Dollar Book, Giveaway OH MY!!

Joclyn Despain has been marred by a brand on her skin. She doesn't know why the mark appeared on her neck, but she doesn't want anyone to see it, including her best friend Ryland, who knows everything else about her. The scar is the reason she hides herself behind baggy clothes, and won't let the idea of kissing Ryland enter her mind, no matter how much she wants to. The scar is the reason she is being hunted. If only she knew that she was. If only she had known that the cursed stone her estranged father sent for her 16th birthday would trigger a change in her. Now, she is being stalked by a tall blonde man, and is iraculously throwing her high school bully ten feet in the air. Joclyn attempts to find some answers and the courage to follow her heart. When Ryland finds her scar; only he knows what it means, and who will kill her because of it.

The Undesirable by S. Celi {Book Blast + Giveaway}

• Title: The Undesirable by S. Celi

• Released: January 28th, 2013 

• Genre: Young Adult / New Adult 

• Series: Book #1 in the Undesirable Series

What if everything you knew turned out to be a lie? Charlotte Walker knows how to live under the rule of The Party. She has managed for 18 years. She helps out her drunken mother and keeps life going at a familiar, steady pace. She doesn’t ask questions, even though she has many of them in her heart. Fostino Sanchez knows how to live under the rule of The Party, too. For 19 years, he’s worked to be the perfect Party member. He knows what must be done to keep Maxwell Cooper in power, and how find the The Undesirables that threaten to take away everything that matters. As the months go by, what matters most to Fostino is Charlotte Walker. While their love blooms, danger comes to Charlotte and Fostino’s small hometown of Harrison Corners, OH. Threats they never knew existed could take away all that they care about. And just when these two teens think they know what will come next, Charlotte learns the truth about a secret she has long suspected. What Charlotte finds out changes everything.  EVERYTHING. THE UNDESIRABLE is Charlotte Walker’s story, from her point of view. It is a thrilling, suspenseful tale of love, curiosity, adversity, and maturity against the backdrop of a futuristic war. Should Charlotte trust Fostino with what she knows? Can she trust anyone? Will she find it in herself to rise up against terrible odds? What if the ultimate Undesirable is her?

Shudder (Stitch Trilogy #2) by Samantha Durante {Cover Reveal + Giveaway}

It's only been three days, and already everything is different. Paragon is behind her, but somehow Alessa's life may actually have gotten worse. In a wrenching twist of fate, she traded the safety and companionship of her sister for that of her true love, losing a vital partner she'd counted on for the ordeal ahead. Her comfortable university life is but a distant memory, as she faces the prospect of surviving a bleak winter on the meager remains of a ravaged world. And if she'd thought she'd tasted fear upon seeing a ghost, she was wrong; now she's discovering new depths of terror while being hunted by a deadly virus and a terrifying pack of superhuman creatures thirsting for blood. And then there are the visions. The memory-altering "stitch" unlocked something in Alessa's mind, and now she can't shake the constant flood of alien feelings ransacking her emotions. Haunting memories of an old flame are driving a deep and painful rift into her once-secure relationship. And a series of staggering revelations about the treacherous Engineers - and the bone-chilling deceit shrouding her world's sorry history - will soon leave Alessa reeling... The second installment in the electrifying Stitch Trilogy, Shudder follows Samantha Durante's shocking and innovative debut with a heart-pounding, paranormal-dusted dystopian adventure sure to keep the pages turning.

GIVEAWAY:

Up for grabs is 1 Print Copy of Shudder!

Enter the Giveaway HERE!!!


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Samantha Durante lives in Westchester County, New York with her husband, Sudeep, and her cat, Gio. Formerly an engineer at Microsoft, Samantha left the world of software in 2010 to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams and a lifelong love of writing. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology, Samantha is currently working full time for her company Medley Media Associates as a freelance business writer and communications consultant. The Stitch Trilogy is her debut series. Learn more about Samantha at www.samanthadurante.com.

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Darkness Kindled by Samantha Young {Release Day Launch + Giveaway}

Paranormal/Fantasy Romance

Book #4 in the Fire Spirits series

 Ari Johnson wishes adjusting to living with her boyfriend was her only source of excitement and anxiety. She wishes a lot of things. But then wishing was what got her here in the first place. Ari chose to be a Guild Hunter. She wanted to hunt dangerous Jinn and destroy them before they could harm innocent people. But now that Ari is a member of The Guild, she finds herself in the impossible position of hunting her ex-best friend – human-turned-dangerous sorcerer, Charlie Creagh. As Ari struggles to come to terms with her duty, an ancient Jinn and his companion want revenge on her for using the command of the Seal against them; the White King refuses to give up on his quest to resurrect Lilif, and Asmodeus isn’t done toying with her. When Ari can take no more, rushing to the Sultan Azazil’s side to demand of him the favor he owes her, the events she sets in motion will not only alter everyone’s lives, it will kindle a darkness that will shake the realms to their very core.

Cover Reveal + {$10 Giftcard Giveaway} The Guardians (More #2) by T.M. Franklin

Series: More #2

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance Fantasy

Publication Date: Fall 2013

Synopsis:

It’s not every day a girl discovers she’s not entirely human and unlocks hidden powers strong enough to make even the First Race take notice. Then again, Ava Michaels is no ordinary girl.

Now, the Race’s Ruling Council wants her under their control, and that’s just the beginning of her problems. Her boyfriend, Caleb Foster, has disappeared—accused of betraying the Race—and Ava herself is implicated in a crime she didn’t commit. 

Clearing their names will mean uncovering a web of deceit and intrigue with Ava woven right in the center. To unravel the strands, she joins forces with some unlikely allies; a Protector who once haunted her nightmares, a young girl with secrets as unexpected as Ava’s, and a group of rebel Guardians who have their own fight against the Council.

Together they stand in a battle to find the truth, bring Caleb home, and secure Ava’s freedom—not to mention save her life.

This is the Followup to:

More By T.M. Franklin 

Published October 24th, 2012

Book #1 Synopsis:

Ava Michaels used to think she was special.

As a child, she fantasized about having magical powers . . . making things happen. But Ava grew up and eventually accepted the fact that her childish dreams were just that, and maybe a normal life wasn't so bad after all.

Now a young college student, Ava meets Caleb Foster, a brilliant and mysterious man who’s supposed to help her pass Physics, but in reality has another mission in mind. What he shows Ava challenges her view of the world, shaking it to its very core.

Because Caleb isn't quite what he seems. In fact, he's not entirely human, and he's not the only one.

Together, the duo faces a threat from an ancient race bound to protect humans, but only after protecting their own secrets—secrets they fear Ava may expose. Fighting to survive, Ava soon learns she's not actually normal . . . she's not even just special.

She's a little bit more.

Up for grabs:

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(20) Signed bookmarks packages, with bookmarks signed by me (including the brand, spanking new one for The Guardians) as well as Lissa Bryan, Sandi Layne, Angel Lawson, L.V. Lewis, Sherri Hayes, Sophie Davis, K.B. Hoyle, Sydney Logan, & Lindsey Gray

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Plus this short story is free all day Today to celebrate the cover reveal!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

T.M. Franklin started out her career writing non-fiction in a television newsroom. Graduating with a B.A. in Communications specializing in broadcast journalism and production, she worked for nine years as a major market television news producer, and garnered two regional Emmy Awards, before she resigned to be a full-time mom and part-time freelance writer. After writing and unsuccessfully querying a novel that she now admits, “is not that great,” she decided to follow the advice of one of the agents who turned her down—write some more and get better at it. Her first published novel, MORE, was born during National Novel Writing month, a challenge to write a novel in thirty days.

She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, Mike, is mom to two boys, Justin and Ryan, and has an enormous black dog named Rocky who’s always lying nearby while she’s writing. Whether he’s soothed by the clicking of the computer keys or just waiting for someone to rub his belly is up for debate.